Supported metal oxides

Abstract

A supported metal oxide wherein the metal oxide is supported on a support having a surface area greater than 50m 2 /gm and a porosity greater than 0.4cc/gm and is supported in an amount between about 25 and about 75%, by weight, within the pores of the support. The metal oxide is generally a transition metal oxide and the supported metal oxide may be prepared by heating a mixture of the support and metal oxide to a temperature above the fusion temperature of the metal oxide, at which temperature the metal oxide is drawn into the pores of the support by capillary action. The supported metal oxide may be employed for the production of nitriles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition of matter comprising: a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of vanadia, molybdena, and mixtures thereof, supported on a porous support selected from the group consisting of silica-alumina and gamma-alumina, said metal oxide being present in an amount to provide a metal oxide to support weight ratio ranging from about 0.3:1 to about 3:1 substantially entirely within the pores of the support, said metal oxide having been placed in molten form substantially within the pores of a support having a surface area greater than about 50 meter square per gram and a porosity greater than about 0.4cc per gram.   
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said support is gamma-alumina. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the metal oxide is vanadia. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said support is silica-alumina. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is vanadia. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said metal oxide is vanadia and said support is gamma-alumina having a surface area of about 200 meters square per gram. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim 1 wherein said metal oxide is vanadia and said support is silica-alumina having a surface area of about 200 meters square per gram. 
     
     
       8. A composition of matter comprising: a supported metal oxide having a surface area from about 5 to 15 meter square per gram, said metal oxide being selected from the group consisting of vanadia, molybdena, and mixtures thereof, said metal oxide being substantially, entirely within the pores of a support selected from the group consisting of gamma-alumina, and silica-alumina, said metal oxide being present in an amount to provide a weight ratio of metal oxide to support from about 0.3:1 to about 3:1, said metal oxide having been placed in molten form substantially, entirely, within the pores of a support having a surface area greater than about 50 meter square per gram and a porosity greater than about 0.4cc per gram.   
     
     
       9. The composition of matter of claim 8 wherein said metal oxide to support weight ratio is from about 0.4:1 to 1.5:1. 
     
     
       10. The composition of claim 8 wherein said support is gamma-alumina. 
     
     
       11. The composition of claim 10 wherein said metal oxide is vanadia. 
     
     
       12. The composition of claim 10 wherein said metal oxide is a mixture of vanadia and molybdena. 
     
     
       13. The composition of claim 8 wherein said support is silica-alumina. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim 13 wherein said metal oxide is vanadia. 
     
     
       15. The composition of claim 13 wherein said metal oxide is a mixture of vanadia and molybdena. 
     
     
       16. A process for producing a supported metal oxide comprising: mixing at least one member selected from the group consisting of the oxides and salts of vanadium and molybdenum with a support having a surface area greater than about 50 meter square per gram and a porosity greater than about 0.4cc per gram, said support being selected from the group consisting of gamma-alumina and silica-alumina, said member having a fusion temperature no greater than about 1500°C and being mixed in an amount to provide from about 25% to about 75%, by weight, metal oxide in the final product, heating the mixture to a temperature above the fusion temperature of the salt whereby the member is drawn substantially, entirely into the pores of the support and further treating the supported member when the member is a metal salt to convert the salt to the metal oxide.   
     
     
       17. The process of claim 16 wherein the support is silica-alumina. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 17 wherein said member is vanadium oxide. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 16 wherein said support is gamma-alumina. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 19 wherein said member is vanadium oxide.